Agriculture Hall - Oregon State University - Corvallis, OR - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

AGRICULTURE HALL, between the East and West Quadrangles, is the dominant building on the campus. Its first unit was started in 1909 and added to in 1913. In the central section are the school of agriculture, the agricultural experiment station, the agricultural extension service, the office of the state leader of 4-H Clubs, and offices, classrooms, and laboratories of the departments of botany, zoology, entomology, and bacteriology. The wings are occupied by the departments of agronomy and horticulture. Special research in agriculture is carried on at the agricultural experiment station, which consists of the central station at Corvallis and nine branch stations in the state. The stations correlate investigations with pressing farm problems. The improvement of strains through better breeding of poultry and livestock has resulted in the rapid development of these industries. The first hen in the world to lay 300 eggs in a year was bred at the station. Control of plant and animal diseases, introduction of new cash crops, and general improvement of farming methods have been stressed. An agricultural agent is maintained in each county of the state, working directly under supervision from the college.

At the time of completion in 1913, Strand Agricultural Hall was the largest building at Oregon State University. The complex stood at the center of campus and housed a variety of academic departments and laboratory space. The building was renamed in 1983 after August Strand, president of the university from 1942 to 1961. Though campus officials considered razing the building to make space for a new Liberal Arts building in the early 1980s, it is standing today. Strand Agricultural Hall is still central to OSU, both physically and in meeting the needs of the university.

Strand Agriculture Hall recently completed a two-year, extensive remodeling project to make the building more accessible to students as well as upgrading much of the interior to include an elevator that reaches the fourth floor.